Rock Center premiered in 2011, but failed to gain a following similar to that of ABC's night newsmagazine 20/20. The series was moved four times during its run — from Mondays to Wednesdays to Thursdays before it was pushed to Fridays. Williams hinted at his disapproval of NBC's handling of the show when he called the Friday timeslot the show's "latest resting place." However, Rock Center's executive producerAlexandra Wallace insisted that comment was "the furthest thing from angry," in a statement released soon after. "He made light of our travels through the schedule."

Rock Center's next new episode, which airs Friday at 10/9c, features one of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's first interviews since he underwent secret weight-loss surgery in February.